New Official Firmware Support from Asus

[ncplay91]

Hi, just last month (March 2025) Asus dropped a new firmware for their AC models which no longer supported by Merlin because the assumption was Asus no longer supports the routers.
But then, Asus dropped ASUS RT-AC88U Firmware version 3.0.0.4.386_48322 and ASUS RT-AC68U Firmware version 3.0.0.4.386_51733 which dramatically improves performance of their routers.
Some of the most noticeable improvements were:

. Fixed client binding issues in Mesh scenarios.
. Enhanced input parameter handling techniques to improve data processing stability and system security.
. Enhance system access control mechanisms.

May I petition Merlin to integrate the latest modern firmware into Merlin, especially the improvement on their node technology is super noticeable.

 

[Ripshod]

May I petition Merlin to integrate the latest modern firmware into Merlin, especially the improvement on their node technology is super noticeable.

You may, but consider the extra workload. I can't see it happening but there may be one-off specials dropped. It's up to the one who does the work.

 

[RMerlin]

Not happening.

 

[ncplay91]

Oh that's ashamed

 

[heinz]

Oh that's ashamed

Put the new firmware on your router and use it as one of the mesh routers. It'll work fine as far as I'm aware.

 

[Swistheater]

Hi, just last month (March 2025) Asus dropped a new firmware for their AC models which no longer supported by Merlin because the assumption was Asus no longer supports the routers.
But then, Asus dropped ASUS RT-AC88U Firmware version 3.0.0.4.386_48322 and ASUS RT-AC68U Firmware version 3.0.0.4.386_51733 which dramatically improves performance of their routers.
Some of the most noticeable improvements were:

. Fixed client binding issues in Mesh scenarios.
. Enhanced input parameter handling techniques to improve data processing stability and system security.
. Enhance system access control mechanisms.

May I petition Merlin to integrate the latest modern firmware into Merlin, especially the improvement on their node technology is super noticeable.

yea like @RMerlin said,

Not happening.

No, a shame would be for this to become a learning curve for people who have routers which are no longer supported. I switched to one of the newer routers for my Main router, and converted all my AC nodes back to stock since @RMerlin will not have the time to continue porting in Asus last minute fixes. For what is worth, @RMerlin had a nice run with these older AC models, but the technological landscape is continuously changing. Hence why it is a learning curve for those who continue on outdated technology for the next 10 years.

 

[elorimer]

Yes, while my primary router will always be on Merlin, I converted two mesh nodes (ac86 and ac1900) to stock. So far no issues.

 

[Tech9]

dramatically improves performance

No dramatic improvements and the only remaining RT-AC68U variant I support remotely failed after about a month on latest Asuswrt. Similar report in the release thread from another forum member. The router is going for recycling soon. This is what is happening for sure.

 

[ryosuke]

Hi, just last month (March 2025) Asus dropped a new firmware for their AC models which no longer supported by Merlin because the assumption was Asus no longer supports the routers.
But then, Asus dropped ASUS RT-AC88U Firmware version 3.0.0.4.386_48322 and ASUS RT-AC68U Firmware version 3.0.0.4.386_51733 which dramatically improves performance of their routers.
Some of the most noticeable improvements were:

. Fixed client binding issues in Mesh scenarios.
. Enhanced input parameter handling techniques to improve data processing stability and system security.
. Enhance system access control mechanisms.

May I petition Merlin to integrate the latest modern firmware into Merlin, especially the improvement on their node technology is super noticeable.

dude, stop wasting time on AC models and asking merlin to continue supporting AC models. Just upgrade your hardware. Now already coming to wifi 7 and you are still on AC.

 

[Patrick9876]

dude, stop wasting time on AC models and asking merlin to continue supporting AC models. Just upgrade your hardware. Now already coming to wifi 7 and you are still on AC.

While I agree with all the "Not going to happen; stop asking" sentiment in this thread I don't think the general availability of wifi 7 is any reason to get off AC routers. Wifi 7 (or Wifi 6) devices on your LAN -Yes. Failing router hardware - Yes. Improved performance - Yes. Using old, nearly obsolete hardware when the latest whiz-bang hardware is available (but unneeded) - No. By that logic, I should have been recycled years ago. (Pretty lousy performance, but I'm still ticking.)

 

[Swistheater]

While I agree with all the "Not going to happen; stop asking" sentiment in this thread I don't think the general availability of wifi 7 is any reason to get off AC routers. Wifi 7 (or Wifi 6) devices on your LAN -Yes. Failing router hardware - Yes. Improved performance - Yes. Using old, nearly obsolete hardware when the latest whiz-bang hardware is available (but unneeded) - No. By that logic, I should have been recycled years ago. (Pretty lousy performance, but I'm still ticking.)

I could see converting them over to AP for devices that don't play nicely with the new WIFI schematics, or check out FreshTomato which will probably take advantage of porting over some of those nice ASUS fixes for the AC model routers. I don't see FreshTomato stopping anytime soon.

 

[RMerlin]

or check out FreshTomato which will probably take advantage of porting over some of those nice ASUS fixes

Such as? The first thing you mentionned is AiMesh enhancements - Tomato does not support AiMesh.

 

[ryosuke]

While I agree with all the "Not going to happen; stop asking" sentiment in this thread I don't think the general availability of wifi 7 is any reason to get off AC routers. Wifi 7 (or Wifi 6) devices on your LAN -Yes. Failing router hardware - Yes. Improved performance - Yes. Using old, nearly obsolete hardware when the latest whiz-bang hardware is available (but unneeded) - No. By that logic, I should have been recycled years ago. (Pretty lousy performance, but I'm still ticking.)

if you are gonna compare yourself to electronic hardwares then by all means, i got no further comments on this LMFAO.

what i meant by my sentence to TS is that since he chose to use devices not being supported by merlin anymore, he should just consider using stock firmware since asus is still pushing out update for it, instead of asking merlin to continue supporting that particular device just for the sake of doing that. It totally doesn't make sense to me at all from a developer perspective. So either he continue to use his device on stock firmware if not just upgrade to something which merlin supports whereby in the near future, he will need to do it as well.

 

[BlackIce]

That's what I did with my three RT-AC86u units. Returned them to the ASUS stock firmware. They are now just spread around in various locations as wifi access points that I turn on and off as needed. The main router handling the LAN is my ASUS RT-AX86u PRO which is running the latest Merlin. Thanks for the heads up here about the updated stock firmware that I did not know about. We are lucky to have someone like Merlin with his abilities to provide the great improvements to the stock firmware but we can't expect him to maintain old routers on top of his workload of updating current models for not much more compensation than getting Routers provided to him gratis from ASUS. ASUS benefits more from Merlin's software (From increased sales) than the expense of routers provided to him (For sure).

 

[Swistheater]

Such as? The first thing you mentionned is AiMesh enhancements - Tomato does not support AiMesh.

notice the "or" in the middle - meaning one or the other. Not "and" which would imply doing both.

 

[Tech9]

Tomato does not support AiMesh

Fresh Tomato does have VLAN support in GUI though and what Asus calls AiMesh can be re-created on 2x RT-AC68U routers plus extra features AiMesh doesn't have in original firmware for this model. Someone on a budget with no big performance needs or expectations can actually do it.

 

[RMerlin]

Fresh Tomato does have VLAN support in GUI though and what Asus calls AiMesh can be re-created on 2x RT-AC68U routers plus extra features AiMesh doesn't have in original firmware for this model. Someone on a budget with no big performance needs or expectations can actually do it.

The point of AiMesh is centralized management. Having a bunch of APs and Repeaters doest not re-create that.

 

[Swistheater]

The point of AiMesh is centralized management. Having a bunch of APs and Repeaters doest not re-create that.

I agree, kind of like a pickup truck having too much ram without enough dodge:

 

[Tech9]

The point of AiMesh is centralized management. Having a bunch of APs and Repeaters doest not re-create that.

A bunch of VLAN capable APs with individual channel and power output control is better than central management with limited control and all "nodes" sharing the same channel available bandwidth. It doesn't re-create AiMesh drawbacks either.

 

[RMerlin]

A bunch of VLAN capable APs with individual channel and power output control is better than central management with limited control and all "nodes" sharing the same channel available bandwidth. It doesn't re-create AiMesh drawbacks either.

That might be better for you, but not everyone wants to micromanage their home network.